Outlet-fixture for gas-tanks.



A. L. CAVEN.

OUTLET FIXTURE FOR GAS TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY H. I914.

1,29 1,401. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

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ALBERT LEWIS CAVEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OUTLET-FIXTURE FOR GAS-TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed May 11, 1914. Serial No. 837,919.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ALBERT LEWIS CAVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Outlet-Fixtures for Gas-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore tanks containing liquid ammonia under high pressure have been found dangerous, in view of the possibility of their exploding when subjected to high temperature, such as that due to the heat of a fire, and the I mere provision of a fusible plug, which when exposed to such temperature would permit of the escape of the contents, was highly objectionable because of the resulting total loss of the contents of the tank as well as because of the danger in releasing such a relatively large quantity of ammonia.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide an outlet fixture for use with tanks such as those containing ammonia under pressure, which, while being relatively simple and inexpensive, shall automatically serve to relieve any excessive pressure which might exist in the tank, but which shall close so as to prevent continued waste of such contents, after the pressure in the tank has fallen to a safe allowable point.

I further desire to provide a fixture having the above noted characteristics with a novel disposition of passages and controlling valves therefor, the arrangement contemplating means whereby it shall be possible to completely prevent the escape of any liquid or gas from the tank under certain conditions.

A further object is to provide an outlet fixture with a novel form of safety-valve so disposed as to permit of its convenient adjustment as well as its complete closure whenever it may be necessary, it being also desired that the safety-valve shall be so arranged as not to interfere with the convenient use of the tank.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of an outlet fixture embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the fixture shown in Fig. 1.

In the above drawings 1 represents a casting through which extends a central vertical passage 2 terminating at its opposite ends in two externally threaded extensions 3 and 4. The first of these extensions is internally threaded at 5, and the second has its interior enlarged, the passage 2 being threaded within the body for the reception of a correspondingly threaded valve stem 6. The inner end of this latter terminates in a guiding extension 7 between which and its body portion is a shoulder forming a valve portion designed to cooperate with a valve seat 8 formed by a shoulder in the passage 2; the outer end of the stem 6 being squared at 9.

\Vithin the hollow of the extension 4: of the casing 1 is a body of packing 10 and a gland 11 held in place by a cap 12, the whole forming a stuffing box to'prevent leakage between the casing 1 and the stem 6.

Just above the shoulder 8 a passage 13 extends at an angle from the passage 2, terminating in a threaded cavity 14L for the reception of the correspondingly threaded end of a pipe fitting connected to the apparatus into which is to be delivered the gas or liquid from the tank having my outlet fixture.

One side of the body of the casting 1 is extended as shown, to provide sufficiently thick walls for this passage 1314 and its opposite side is likewise extended or enlarged to similarly provide for a passage 1516-17 which extends at an acute angle to the passage 2 into which it opens at some point between the valve-seat 8 and the threaded cavity 5. The upper end of the part 15 of this third passage has a valve-seat for the valve 18 which is normally held in engagement with said seat by a coiled spring 19. The latter, with the valve, operates within the part 16 of the passage and is compressed to any desired extent by a plug 20 threaded into the larger diameter part 17 of said passage. Said plug is centrally perforated and the extension 21 of the casting in whose cavity it is mounted is externally threaded for the reception of a cap 22 which has lateral openings 23.

It will be noted that these openings are so positioned as to permit of the escape of fluid from the passage 1516-17 whenever the valve is open and the cap 22 is backed off so that the inner surface of its rear end is spaced away from the outer face of the extension 21, and within this cap is mounted a lead or other suitable washer or gasket 24: so placed that when it is screwed down it effectually closes the open end of passage, absolutely cutting off the flow of fluid therethrough.

Under conditions of use the fixture constructed according to my invention has its threaded portion 3 screwed in a correspondingly threaded hole of the steel tank or cylinder in which gas under pressure is to be confined. Thereafter the safety-valve 18 is adjusted by screwing the plug 20 inwardly so that the spring 19 is compressed to such an extent that said valve is held on its seat except when more than a predetermined excessive pressure exists in the part 15 of the passage, there being a passage 25 through the plug, which terminates in a square cavity 26 for the reception of an adjusting tool.

To fill the tank, a fitting connected to a source of gas or liquid is screwed intothe threaded cavity 14 and, with the valve-stem 6 in the position shown, the gas under pres sure is delivered through the passages 13 and 2, and out through the extension 3. When sufiicient gas has been compressed in the tank the valve-stem 6 is screwed down by a wrench or handle until the valve provided by its shouldered end engages the seat in the passage 2.

If it be assumed that the cap 22 is partially backed off of the extension 21, then in case an abnormal pressure should be exerted 7 within the tank such as might ultimately result in its destruction, the liquid or gas would merely unseat the safety-valve 18 in opposition to the spring 19 and "escape through the openings 23 of the cap. As soon, however, as-the pressure was sulfioiently reduced or the cause producing it was removed, the safety-valve would again be seated, preventing the further loss of gas and danger to life and property.

If for any reason the safety-valve should leak so that while the tank was being transported under normal conditions, the escape of gas became objectionable, the cap 22 could be screwed down, thus preventing further waste.

The combination in an outlet fixture of a body of metal having a threaded portion for connection to a tank and provided with a main passage and a relief passage opening into said main passage; a valve in the relief passage; a perforted plug threaded into said relief passage; a spring confined between said plug and said valve; with a cap having lateral perforations adjustably threaded *on the fixture normally in position to permit free escape of fluid passing said safety valve and movable into a position to prevent'such escape of fluid.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT LEWIS CAVEN. Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, WM. A. BARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

